Food bank needs food for families

COMMUNITY: Salvation Army Food Bank co-ordinator Graeme Wheeler puts together a family food package in their depleted warehouse. PHOTO: KARLA KARAITIANA

The Middle Districts Lions' Palmerston North Food Drive is happening this Saturday and organisers are hoping residents will do their bit to support the city's busy food banks.

The Lions have run the food drive for 26 years and with extra demand on services throughout the holiday season, food bank co-ordinator Warren Rickard says it's now more important than ever.

"I have visited the food banks and to be fair, they are pretty sparse all year round. They need a real boost from the community to get through the extra demand they see over the holiday period."

Last year 28,000 Lions bags were distributed but only 6000 were returned with food.

"We can't really stress enough that every little bit is appreciated, so we welcome absolutely anything that people are able to give," Mr Rickard says.

Graeme Wheeler, who is co-ordinating the Salvation Army food bank warehouse, says the support they receive throughout the year from local supermarkets and businesses helps to sustain their services but, at this time of year, they need the public to step up too.

"We encourage the people of our community to please fill your bags. Without your generosity and support, we couldn't do the work that we do at this time of year."

Aside from the normal non-perishable food items, cleaning and sanitary products are often missed but desperately needed. The food drive also welcomes festive offerings like balloons and party food.

"At this time of year it's nice for people experiencing hardship to get a little something that helps them feel festive and celebratory," Mr Wheeler says. "It can make a stressful time of year a little bit lighter."

From 4pm, almost 500 volunteers will be weaving the streets in high-visibility vests, making lots of noise on the sirens, so people are aware of their arrival.

"We hope that it will bring people out of their houses and it's part of the fun," Mr Rickard says. "We will be making lots of noise and will sweep each area three or four times so that bags put out after the first collection will not be missed."